Electric switch



H. C. HALL ELECTRIC SWITCH Aug. 1, 1944.

Filed June 6, 1942 l .|z 17,15 1014 17 5 ma W. m ax m H T W I. a .v

, rotor elements.

means for mounting a compression spring for applying pressureto the contacts. 'l1/of `the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

Patented Aug. 1, 1944 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC SWITCH.`

Application June 6, 1942, Serial No. 446,088

(Cl. o-6) 9 Claims.

panying drawing taken in connection with thev appended claims.

The invention comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, arrangement of parts, and methods of manufacture and operation referred to above or which will be brought out and exemplified in the disclosure hereinafter set forth, -including the illustrations in the drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through an electric switch embodying features oi' the present invention;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a rotor element; and

Figure 4 is a plan view of a rotor contact spring used in the switch.

One feature of the invention resides in the use of interfltting rotor elements which can be fitted togetherend to end to produce a switch rotorv having as many switch sections as desired. Another feature of the invention resides in the method of mounting the contact spring on said A further feature comprises the Other features While a preferred embodiment of the invention is described herein, it is contemplated that considerable variation may be made in the method of procedure and the construction of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. In the following description and in the claims, parts will be identified by specific names spaced mounting studs I4 having spacing sleeves l5 carried thereon.

End wall I3 has a central opening to accommodate the rotor shaft and a second opening provided with a conduit coupling IQ for carrying the necessary connecting wires into the switch.

A plurality of parallel stator plates I'I-of sheet insulating material are mounted within the switch cover on studs Il, spaced by spacing sleeves l5. Two stator plates i1 are illustrated in the figures although it will be apparent that a switch can be made containing any desired number of spaced stator plates. Stator plates I1 in the region of studs I4 are made of such diameter as to fit within cover I0 with a slight clearance. The plates are cut away to smaller diameter, however, Ibetween studs Il to provide spaces between the edge of the stators and cover Il through which the connecting wiring for other k suitable slot in the stator and projecting upward from the opposite side of the stator where it may readily be attached to the connecting wiring by screw 2|.

Also mounted against the same face of stator I1, spaced outside of circular contact IB and concentric with it is a series of arcuate contact segments 22 and spacing segments 23. Segments 22 are each provided with a terminal lug bent at right angles to the segment and passing through a suitable slot in the stator l1 to provide a 'wire connecting terminal on the other side of the stator. Spacing segments 23 which alternate with segments 22 on the stator have no connecting lugs and merely provide bearing surfaces for the rotor contact to slide over -in passing from one contact segment 22 to the next contact segment 22. Short 'gaps or spaces 25 are provided between the ends of segments 22 and 23 to insure 4that they will be insulated from each other. Therefore, the rotor contact is temporarily isolated from the switch circuits while it is on a segment 23. This insures that no two contact segments 22 will be conductively shorted by the rotor contact at any time during the operation of the switch.

The rotor is driven by a central drive shaft 2i passing completely through the switch to which is keyed a metal drive ning 21 coupled to the rotor by Bakelite coupling ring 28. The rotor comprises a plurality of similar sections corresponding in number to the number of stator plates. Hence, in the switch illustrated two rotor sections are provided. Each rotor section comprises a rotor element 28, such as is illustrated in Figure 3, formed of insulating material, such as Bakelite, ceramic or other suitable insulating material.

Rotor element 2l has a central bore 3l for accommodating the control shaft and a notched coupling flange Il at. one end thereof, the notches I2 of which interfit with Asimilarly shaped driving lugs u on the end of a preceding rotor section. In the case of the first rotor section, identied as a in Figure 1, notches I2 cooperate with driving lugs I4 on coupling ring 28. In the case of rotor 2lb of Figure l, it is driven by lugs I2 of rotor 28a.

An annular ilange 3i is an integral part of rotor 2l adjacent to notched flange Il and a cylindrical portion 3l is provided between flange 2l and the end of the rotos carrying lugs I3. The surface of cylindrical portion 28 is ilush with the outer edges of lugs Il, the rotor being cut away to a smaller diameter in the end region 21 to leave lugs 3l.

Flange is provided on its rear face with a pair of diametrically opposed rounded ridges Il and a pair of rectangular positioning lugs II located 90 from ridges n,

Rotor contact comprises a sheet metal yoke member having a central circular aperture 4I of such diameter as to t loosely over cylindrical portion of rotor 2l. 'I'his contact member is extended at diametrically opposite edges to tapered rounded arms carrying contact discs 42 and 43, respectively, against the face of the rotor member at distances from the axis corresponding to the distances of stator contacts Il and 22, respectively. The rotor contact member has opposed notches 44 and 4l cut in the edge of inner circular aperture 4l at positions in line with contacts 42 and 4l, respectively. When the rotor is assembled, rotor contact member 40 embraces cylindrical portion Il of the rotor with notches 44 and 4l engaging lugs 39 of the rotor so that con-A tact spring 4B will be turned with the rotor. Rotor 4l rests against diametrically opposed ridges Il of the rotor so as to be tiltable about these ridges as an axis. When the switch is assembled, contacts 42 and 4l bear against the surfaces of contacts Il` and 22, respwtively, under the pressure applied by ridges 28 to the member 4l.

Each rotor 29 extends through a central accommodating opening in its stator I1 and is held in position by a coil compression spring 4l encircling the rotor and pressing against the stator plate I1 on the one `hand and a pressure ring 41 on the other hand iltted in notches 4l cut in lugs 33 of the rotor. Thus. coil spring 46 supplies the necessary spring pressure to the contacts. Ring. 41 has cover the invention broadly within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. .An electric switch comprising at least one stator plate, stator contacts on one face thereof, a cylindrical insulating rotor element passing through an aperture in said plate, rotor contacts thereon bearing against said stator contacts, and a shoulder on said rotor on the opposite side of said stator plate from said contacts and a compression spring interposed between said shoulder and said stator plate.

2. An electric switch comprising at least one stator plate, stator contacts on one face thereof, a cylindrical insulating rotor element passing through an aperture in said plate, rotor contacts thereon bearing against said stator contacts, and a shoulder on said rotor on the opposite side oi said stator plate from said contacts and spaced from said plate, and a coil compression spring encircling said rotor and bearing against said shoulder and said stator plate.

3. An electric switch comprising a plurality of spaced parallel stator plates, stator contacts on a face of each of said plates, a rotor passing through aligned apertures in said plates, said rotor comprising a series ol' interiltting rotor elements each of which is disposed in` the aperture of one of said stator plates, rotor contacts on said rotors and bearing against the stator contacts of their respective stators, said rotors having interiitting driving coupling formations on their ends, whereby they are adapted to rotate as aunit.

4. An electric switch comprising a plurality of spaced parallel stator plates, stator contacts on a face of each of said plates, a rotor passing through aligned apertures in said plates, said rotor comprising a series of intertting rotor notches on its inner periphery to enable 1c te be placed over the end of the rotor after which it is rotated about degrees to lock it in place,

With the construction described a switch of any desired number of sections can be readily and rapidly assembled which is of sturdy fool-proof construction and produced from interchangeable parts. In operation rotor contact member 4l connects contact ring Il with a contact 22 selected by turning the rotor.

While the present invention, as to its objects and advantages, has been described herein as carried out in specific embodiments thereof, it is not desired to be limited thereby but it is intended to elements each of which is disposed in the aperture of one of said stator plates, rotor contacts on said rotors and bearing against the stator contacts of their respective stators, said rotors having intertting driving coupling formations on their ends, whereby they are adapted to rotate as a unit and springs individual to each of said rotors urging the contacts of said rotor against the contacts of its respective stator.

' 5. An electric switch comprising at least one stator plate, stator contacts on one face thereof, a cylindrical insulating rotor passing through an aperture in said plate, a rotor contact member comprising a yoke loosely embracing said rotor and bearing against said stator at diametrically QDDOsite points thereon, said rotor contact yoke member carrying a contact at at least one of said bearing points cooperating with said stator contacts, diametrically opposite shoulders `on said rotor disposed transverse of a line connecting said bearing points and a spring urging said rotor axially in a direction to press said shoulders against said yoke and thereby press said rotor -contact yoke member toward said stator.

6. An electric switch comprising at least one stator plate, two concentric rings of stator contacts against one face of said plate, a cylindrical insulating rotor passing through an aperture in said plate, a rotor contact member comprising a sheet metal yoke loosely embracing said rotor and carrying contacts at diametrically opposite edges thereof at radii corresponding respectively to the radii of said rings of stator contacts and bearing against said stator contacts, respectively, diametrically opposite shoulders on said rotor disposed transverse to a line joining said rotor contacts, said yoke being disposed between said shoulders and said stator, and a spring urging said rotor axially to press said shoulders against the sides of said yoke-and thereby apply pressure to said cooperating rotor and stator contacts.

7. An electric-switch comprising at leastone stator plate, two concentric rings of stator contacts against one face of said plate, a cylindrical insulating rotor passing throughan aperture in said plate, a rotor contact member comprising a sheet metal yoke loosely embracing said rotor and carrying contacts at diametrically opposite edges thereof at radii corresponding respectively to the radii of said rings of stator contacts and bearing against said stator contacts. respectively, diametrically opposite shoulders on said rotor disposed transverse to a line Iioining said rotor contacts, said yoke being disposed between said shoulders and said stator, a shoulder on said rotor on the opposite side of said stator from said contacts and a compression spring interposed between said last-mentioned shoulder and said stator.

8. An electricswitch comprising a plurality of spaced parallel stator plates, a rotor passing through aligned apertures in said plates, said rotor comprising a series of interiltting cylindrical insulating rotor elements each of which is disposed in the aperture of one of said stator plates, said rotor elements being coupled by interfitting driving coupling formationson their ade joining ends, whereby they are adapted to rotate as a unit, each of said stator plates having two concentric rings of stator contactsagainst one face thereof, its respective rotor element carrying a contact member comprising a sheet metal yoke loosely embracing said rotor element and carrying contacts at diametrically opposite edges thereof at radii corresponding respectively to the radii of said rings of stator contacts and bearing against said stator contacts, respectively, diametrically opposite shoulders on said rotor element disposed transverse to a line Joining said rotor contacts, said yoke being disposed between said shoulders and said stator, and a spring urging said rotor axially to press said shoulders against the sides of said yoke and thereby apply pressure' to said cooperating rotor and stator contacts.

9. An electric switch comprising a plurality of spaced parallel stator plates, a rotor passing through aligned apertures in said plates, said rotor comprising a series of intertitting cylindrical insulating rotor elements each of which is disposed in the aperture of one of said stator plates, said rotor elements being coupled by interfltting ydriving coupling formations on their ad- Joining ends. whereby they are adapted to rotate as a unit. each of said stator plates having two concentric rings oi' stator contacts against one face thereof, its respective rotor element carrying a contact member comprising a sheet metal yoke loosely embracing said rotor element and carrying contacts at diametrically `opposite edges thereof at radii corresponding respectively to the radii of said rings of stator contacts and bearing against said stator contacts, respectively, diametrically opposite shoulders on said rotor element, ldisposed transverse to a line Iioining said rotor contaets,.said yoke being disposed between said shoulders and said. statona shoulder on said rotor element on the opposite side' et said stator from aaidcontacts and a compression spring interposed between said last-mentioned shoulder and said stator.

HARRY C. HALL. 

